Pneumatic musical instrument.



PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

m. mu

E. DE KLEIST. PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 190.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1L PATENTBD JAN. 21, 1908.

I B. DE KLEIST. PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. l9 Q6i No. 877,203. PATENTED JAN; 21, 1908. E. DE KLEIST.

PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPLICATION FILED JAN.13. 1906.

.3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EUGENE DE KLEIST, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

$pecification of Letters iatent. I Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Application filed January 13. 1906. $erial No- 295.914.

T0=all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE DE KLEIST, .a citizen of the United States, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Musical Instruments, of which the, following is .a specification.

.This invention relates to automatic musical instruments which are driven by an elece trio motor and in which the motor-circuit is closed by a coin, which is detained in a chute or'hopper for a sufficient time to cause the instrument to play one or more tunes, at the end of which period the coin. isauto-' 'matically released, thus breaking the motorcirouit and stopping the instrument. A coin-releasing mechanism of this character "isshown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 713,658 granted to me November 18, 1902..

The present improvement is designed. more especially for uselin connection with views.

The piano action and the usual motorpneumatics which operate its hammers ari not shown in the drawings and may be 0 any ordinary construction. The main win chest, shown at A, and its valve mechanisn may be of any suitable or well-known con struction.

B indicates the usual tracker-board, C th' 5 perforated music sheet wound on the custoni ary rollers c, c, D the air motor and E driving gear of ordinary construction b transmitted from the mot 'responding parts throughout the several l which motion is to said rollers and which contains the us .7 reversing means controlled by the track elpl. board and music-sheet, for automaticallyl rewinding the latter after the last tune on the same has been played. a F is the main suction bellows and G a cut-v ofi device of any suitable or well known con struction controlled by the tracker board and the music sheet and serving to cut-off pneumatic musical instruments employing communication between said bellows and 5 a perforated music sheet and having means the main wind-chest while the music sheet w for automatically rewinding the same, and is being rewound.

its object is to provide the instrument with H indicates the coin-chute, and I the coin simple means for automatically controlling. hopperor intercepting device which controls the release of the coin deposited for playing the circuit. 1 in which the electric motor I of 30 the last tune on the music sheet so as to keep the instrumentis included. This coin-inter- .5,

cepting device is preferably constructed subthe motor and main suction bellows in opera stantially like that described andshown in ation after thewind chest has beencut o 4) is a horizontal section in line and until the music sheet has been resound.

In the accompanying drawings consisting 0P3 sheets: Figure 1 is a fragmentary front. elevation of a pneumatic piano. em- Fig. 2 is an enauxiliary wind chest, .showin the position of the parts when the out off va ve is closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of said auxiliary chest, with the parts in the same position.

Fig. 4; is a transverse vertical section in' line 4-4 F1 3 showing the unlocki g pneumatic co lapsed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged front view of the tracker board and cooperating devices, showing the means for actuating. the valve of the auxiliary tracker mechanism. Fig. 6 is a transverse section in line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the auxiliary Windchest in line 7 7 Fig.

3. Fig. 8 is a face view of the coin hopper and cooperating releasing-pnerimatics. Fig. 9-9, Fig. s. -.'-;Similar letters of reference indicate corthe Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to and consists of a hopper or receptacle arranged at the foot of the chute H and having two opposite metallic walls i forming the terwhich the intercepted coin is discharged laterally by an ejecting finger i door and extending .per wall opposite the door,-so that when atteris opened The hopper-door 1s controlled byeither 0 .two bellows or pneumatics; J, J) the movable board-sot which are connected with the door by rods 9'. For distinction, these bellows may he termed the Inainrc minals of the motorcircuit and adapted to be I them consists of a hinged door i through carried by said through a slot in the hogthe ej'ector moves across the throat ahd expels the coin from the ho per. i

' emanated in an auxiliary coin-discharge pneumatic, respectively. The main discharge pneumatic J, is controlled by the music-sheet and one of the units or valve chambers of the main windchest A in such manner that said pneumatic is collapsed and caused to open the hop erdoor at the end of every tune, exce t the ast,

so as toecause the instrument to p ay a tune for each de osit of a pro er coin.

The auxi iary coin-disc iarge neumatic' J i his part of the instrument, the preferred locasuction-bellows F by a tube Z.

tion being at the left hand side of the tracker mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1.

stantly and directly connected with the main This channel, which is preferably in the lower ortion of the chest, leads to the bottom 0 an exhaust chamber M and is controlled by a cut-oil valve m preferably of the rockin type arranged in said chamber. This va ve is normally closed by a spring m. It is opened by the movable board of a bellows or neumatic N which is connected by a rod n with a vertically swinging arm N which in turn acts upon the tail of the valve through a stickern passing through the top of the exhaust chamber. The arm N is preferably provided on its underside with a strip n of leather or similar material adapted to cover the hole through which said sticker passes, so as to exclude the outer atmosphere at this point when the arm is lowered, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

This arm is ivoted in a chamber 0 arran ed,

above the exhaust chamber M and passes through an opening 0 in the end tier-cot which admits the outer air to the chamber 0. The pneumatic N is connected by a tube p with one of the units or valve chamber of" the main wind-chest A, in the same inuulni as the i'notor-pneumatics of the piano hammers and the music sheet has a corresponding perforation arranged to register \YlLll the companion duct of the trackeuboard, when the instrument has about finished playing the last piece on the music sheet, so as to collapse said pneumatic and cause it to open the cutoff valve m. To avoid the Formation ol a long slot in the music sheet for this purpose, a suitable locking device is prclbrably employed to keep the valve in open during the desired interval after having been opened by the pneumatic the auxiliary wind chest and having a shoulder g adapted to engage over the pl'ojflfltlllg The device shown in the drawings consists oi. a lover or catch q pivoted to The chest K- is provided with a main exhaust channel or D chamber L Figs. 3, 4 and 7, which is con-' end of the arm N when the latter is depressed, I

as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. s ring g which connects the lower arm of the 00king lever with the chest Kserves to hold the lever in engagement 'with said arm.

R is an unlocking pneumatic arranged to disengage the locking lever g from the arm y N after the coin for thelast piece on the music sheet "has been released from the coin hopper I. This pneumatic is constantly connected with the main suction bellows F p 1 by communicating with the exhaust channel L, whereby when the main suction bellows is operated the unlocking pneumatic isgcol- I lapsed, thus withdrawing its movable arm.

and with the air chamber 0 by a port 8. Theauxiliary or final .coin discharge pneumatic J is connected with this valve chamber by a tube 8 The ports s, s are controlled by valves 8 8 arranged to close alternately, so that when the valve chamber is placed in communication with the exhaust chamber M it is shutofi from the atmosphere, and vice These valves are controlled by a diaphragm or pneumatic 8 arranged in the exhaust chamber and covering a pouch ehamher 8.

t Fig. 6, indicates a vent-channel or auxiliary tracker-duct arranged adjacent to the take-up roller 0, and t is a tube connecting said duct with the chamber 8 under the diaphragm s s. a valve if having a suitable closing-spring t. u an arm or pawl pivoted to the base of the main tracker-board B in front of the trackervalve t" and provided on its inner side with a linger n adapted to bear upon the tail of said valve for opening it. The arm u is pressed toward the take-up roller by a spring and the roller is provided opposite the arm with an annular groove it which is en tered by the free end of the arm when the 5 groove is uncovered by the rewinding of the music sheet, thus permitting the arm to swing inwardly and opening the trackervalve, while when the sheet is wound upon the take-up roller it moves the arm out of the groove, therein with-drawing the. finger 'u" from the trmdrerwnlve and permitting the latter to close.

The operation of the parts is as l'ollowsi Upon depositing a proper coin in the chute ll, the motor circuit is closed and the motor is caused to o white the main suction bellows F in well known manner, exhausting the air from the exhaust channel L and the unlocking pneumatic R and collapsing the, 30

This duct is normally closed by 105 svmos latter, as shown in Fig. 4., From the time last tune on the music sheet has been iinished 1 pneumatic, discharging or nearly finished, the valve opening pneumatic N remains expanded, allowing the cut- .(ifl valve in to remain closed and the exhaust and vent valves .9" s" to assume the position shown in Fig. 4. As the traveling music sheet covers the groove a of the take-up roller under these conditions, thc arm u is held in its inoperative position and the tracker valve 1? is permitted to close. At the end of each tune, except the last, the de posited. coin is discharged bythe collapse of the main discharge pneumatic J due to the action of the music sheet and the corresponding valve mechanism of the main wind chest as hereinbefore described. At about the end of the last lune, the pneumatic N is collapsed by the act-ion of the music sheet and locked by the lever g thereby opening the cut-off valve m and exhausting the air from the chamber M, preparatory to actuating the final or auxiliary coin-discharge pneumatic J The last tune having been finished, the music sheet is automatically rewound in the customary manner and as soon as it uncovers the groove a in the take up roller, the arm a swings forwardly into the same, opening the tracker-valve t admitting the atmosphere under the diaphragm and reversing the latter. By this action, the exhaust valve 8 is opened and the vent-valve 8 closed, thus placing the auxiliary coin discharge pneumatic J in communication with? the exhaust chamber M, collapsing said" the coin from the hopper H and stopping the instrument. The air being new no longer exhausted'from the unlocking pneumatic R, the same expandsand disengages the locking lever g from the arm N allowing thepneumatic N to expand and the cut-off valve to close and restoring ,the parts to their fogmer condition, ready to frepeat the above described cycle of opera' tions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows. a motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a tom-releasing pneumatic, a main wind-chest and cooperating tracker-mcchanism, and-an auxiliary wind-chest and cooperating backerilhecl'ianism controlling said coin releasing pneumatic and controlled by the main trackermechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows, a motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a main and an auxiliary coin-releasing pneu- ."matic, a main wind-chest and cooperating tracker mechanism controlling said'main coin-releasing pneumatic, and an auxiliary wind-chest and coi'i 'ierating tracker-mechanthat the instrument begins to play until the ism controlled by the main tracker mechan- :3. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows, a

motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a coin-releasing pneumatic, a main Windchest, tracker-mechanism cooperating with said chestand including a take-up roller for the music sheet, saidroller being provided with a groove adapted to be covered by the music-sheet, an auxiliary wind-chest connected with said main bellows and said coinreleasing pneumatic, valve mechanism arranged in said auxiliary chest and controlling communication between said main bellows and the coin-releasing pneumatic, an auxiliary tracker device having a duct leading to the last-named wind-chest, a valve controlling said duct, and an opening device for said valve arranged to enter said groove and normally held out of the same by the overlying music sheet, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows, a motor therefor, coin controlled means for startin and stopping the motor, including a coin-releasing pneumatic, a main wind-chest tracker mechanism cooperating with said chest and including a take-up roller for the music sheet, said roller being ro'vided with an annular groove adapted to e covered by the music sheet, an auxiliary wind-chest connected with said main bellows and said coinreleasing pncumatic valve mechanism arranged in said auxiliary chest and controlling communication between the said main bellows and the coin-releasing pneumatic, an auxiliary tracker device having a duct leading to the last-named wind-ches t, a valve controlling said duct, a pivoted arm acting upon sai valve and arranged opposite said groove, and a spring tending to move said arm into said groove, substantially as set forth.

,bellows and the coin-releasirig pneumatic,

an auxiliary tracker device having 'aduct leading to the last-named wind chest; a valve controlling said duct, and arranged/adjacent and cooperating tracker-mechanism, an auxto the take-up roller, and a pivoted arm arstartin and stopping the motor, including a coin-re easing pneumatic, a main wind chest iliary wind chest having an exhaust channel connected with said main bellows, an exhaust chamber connected with said chamiel a cutoff valve controlling communication between said chamber and channel a pneumatic for opening said valve controlled by said main wind-chest and tracker-mechanism, a valve chamber connected with said exhaust chamber and said coin-releasing pneumatic and having an exhaust valve and a vent-valve, a diaphragm or pneumatic arranged in said exhaust chamber and controlling the last named valves, an auxiliary tracker device having a duct leading to said diaphragm, and a valve controlling said tracker-duet and controlled by said main tracker mechanisi'n, substantially as set forth.

7. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows, a motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a coin-releasing pneumatic, a mainwind chest and cooperating tracker mechanism, an auxiliary wind chest having, an exhaust channel connected with said main bellows, an exhaust chamber connected with said channel a cut-oil valve controlling communication between said channel and chamber,'a

neumatic for opening said valve controlled by said main wind chest'and tracker mechanism, a locking device for holding said valve in its open position, a valve chamber connected with said exhaust chamber and said coin-releasing neumatic and having an exhaust valve am a vent-valve, and an auxiliary tracker device controlling the lastnamed valves and controlled by said main tracker-1nechnnism, and an unlocking pneumatic connected with said main bellows and acting on said locking device,substantially as set forth.

8. In a pneumatic musical instrument,

the combination of a main exhaust bellows,

a motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a coin releasing pneumatic, a main wind chest and coiipcl'utillg tracker mechanism, an auxiliary wind chest having an'exheustchannel connected with said main bellows, an exhaust chamber connected with said channel n cut-oil valve conl rolling communication between said channel and chamber apneumntic for opening said valve controlled by said main wind chest and tracker mechanism, a pivoted arm arranged outside of said exhaust chamber and actuated by the lastnamed pneumatic, a rod inter osed between said arm and said out off va ve, a locking" anism controlling said valve mechanism and controlled by said main tracker mechanism, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the combination of a main exhaust bellows, a motor therefor, coin controlled means for starting and stopping the motor, including a com-releasing pneumatic, a main wind chest and cooperating tracker mechanism, an auxiliary wind chest having an exhaust channel connected with said main bellows an exhaust chamber connected with said channel a cut-off valve controlling communication between said channel, and chamber,

neumatic for opening said valve con tro led by said main wind chest and tracker mechanism, a pivoted arm arranged outside of said exhaust chamber and actuated by the last-named pneumatic, a rod inter osed between said arm and said cut-ofl' vaye, a locking lever cooperating with said arm, an unlocking pneumatic connected with said main nellows and acting on said lockin lever, a valve chamber connected with sai exhaust cluiniber and said coin releasing pneumatic and having an exhaust and a vent valve, a dis hragm or pneumatic arranged in said exiiaust chamber and eon-- trolling the last named valves, an auxiliary tracker device having a duct leading to said diaphragm and a valve controllin tracker duct and controlled by sai main tracker mechanism, substantially as set forth 10. In a pneumatic musical instrument, having coin controlled means for stopping and starting the motor of its main suctionbellows, including a coin-releasing pneumatic, an auxiliary wind chest having an exhaust chamber, an exhaust channel leading to said chamber, a cut of? valve controlling communication between said chamber and said said channel. a pneumatic for opening said valve adapted to be controlled by the main wind chest and tracker mechanism of the in strument, a valve chamber adapted to be connected with said coin-releasing prieu matic and having ports leading to said exhaust chamber and the outer atmosphere,

valves controlling said ports, and a diaphragm arranged in said exhaust chamber and controlling the last named valves, the chamber below said diaphragm having a passage for admit-ting the atmosphere, sub

stantially as set forth.

- haust chamber an 11. In a pneumatic musical instrument, having coin controlled means for stopping and starting the motor of its main suction bellows, including a coin-releasing pneumatic, an auxiliary wind chest having an exhaust chamber, an exhaust channel leading to said chamber, a'cut-oii valve controllin communication between said chamber and said channel, a pneumatic for opening said valve adapted to be controlled by the main wind chest and tracker mechanism of the instrument, 'a lever for locking said valve in its open position, an unlockin pneui'natic adapted to be connected with t e main suc-v tion bellows'of the instrument and acting on said lever, a valve chamber adapted to be connected with said coin-releasing pneumatic'and having ports leading to said exthe outer atmosphere, valves controlling said ports, and a diaphragm arranged in said exhaust chamber and controlling the last named valves, the chamber below said diaphragm having a passage for admitting the atmosphere, substantially as set forth.

12. in a pneumatic musical instrument having a coin controlledmeans for stopping and startin the motor of its main suction bellows, inc uding a coin-releasing pneuniatic, an auxiliary wind chest having an exhaust chamber, an exhaust channel leading to said chamber, a cut off valve control communication between said chamber an said channel, a pneumatic for opening said valve adapted to be controlled by the main Wind chest and tracker mechanism of the instrument, a sticker acting upon said valve and passing throu h an openin in the top of the exhaust cham er, an arm caring upon the rejecting end-of said sticker and operative y connected with the last-named pneumatic, said arm being arranged to close the o ening throu h which the stickerpasses,

w en de resse ,aloclring lever cooperating with sai am, an unlocking pneumatic acting on said lever and adapted to be, Q/sanected' with the main suction bellows of the instru ment, a valve chamber adapted to be con-' nected with said coin-releasing pneumatic and having orts leading to said exhaust chamber an the atmosphere, valves controlling said ports and a diaphragm arranged in said exhaust chamber and controlling the last named valves, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 6th day of January,

' EUGENE DE IQ EIST. Witnesses C. F. Gavan,- E. M. GRnHAM. 

